A man charged in the shooting death of a promising New Jersey high school basketball player has pleaded not guilty.

Twenty-year-old Gregory Oliver made his first court appearance on Thursday to face charges of murder, attempted murder and weapons possession in the death of 15-year-old Armoni Sexton. He was killed and three others were injured in a drive-by shooting in Paterson on Saturday.

Oliver's attorney, Harley Breite, says his client is innocent and was a victim himself of a drive-by shooting the same day. Breite says Oliver was shot in the right arm.

Sexton's mother, Lawanda, says that she is praying for Oliver and his family.

Sexton was a top scorer and rebounder at the Paterson Charter School for Science for Science and Technology.